Ask HN: Anyone else understand a language but not able to speak it?

Re:Ask HN: Anyone else understand a language but not able to... by toblender on Wednesday February 09, 2011 @01:16PM (#2198567)

I have the same issue with Mandarin. I believe with practice you will develop the confidence to speak it.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Anyone else understand a language but not able to... by xtac on Wednesday February 09, 2011 @01:18PM (#2198575)

Are you actively trying to learn it? Do you find it hard to tie words together?

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Ask HN: Anyone else understand a language but not able to... by toblender on Thursday February 10, 2011 @04:16PM (#2203772)

I have lunch with a mandarin speaker once a week to practice. My parents native tongue is cantonese, so it's similar in grammar at least to mandarin. I found I really suck at speaking cantonese, but a couple of months ago I went to China. With no english speakers around me, I was forced to adapt, within 3 days I was speaking fluent cantonese to my cousins. So I'm a firm believer in practice makes perfect.

[ Parent | on HN ]